From hackathon nerves to internship wins: Kavya’s journey at 1Password

Each year, we welcome around 60 ambitious interns who help drive our mission while growing their skills and networks. Kavya’s story is one we had to share. From building a wellness app with Passage by 1Password to landing an internship and learning to lead with confidence, this is her full-circle journey launching her career with 1Password.

Get to know Kavya

Introduce yourself and tell us what you’re studying.

Hey! I’m Kavya, a third-year student at UBC majoring in Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science.

What do you enjoy doing for fun?

Funny story – I actually started as a business major. I took an introductory computer science course just for the experience, and I unexpectedly discovered a real passion for CS, problem-solving, and tech. That’s what led me to switch into math.

Outside of school, I love going on hikes. I’ve been trying to do one every week this summer. I also love going to the gym, spending my evenings cooking with music on, and baking. A couple of personal goals I’m working toward are learning how to do a handstand and running a half-marathon!

The hackathon experience

What drew you to participate in cmd-f (Western Canada’s largest hackathon celebrating underrepresented genders in tech)?

Hackathons can feel like a really intimidating space. When I first attended larger ones, I often felt overwhelmed. Like I didn’t belong. I remember moments where I was still debugging five lines of code while other participants seemed halfway through building their projects. That imposter syndrome hit hard.

That’s exactly why cmd-f stood out to me. It’s a hackathon designed specifically to support underrepresented genders in tech (and allies). It completely changed the way I looked at hackathons. Instead of something scary or reserved for “experts,” I saw it as a space to learn, experiment, and connect with others. I walked in thinking: “Even if I don’t know everything, this is my chance to figure it out and build something meaningful."

Tell us about your team’s winning project and the building process.

The theme was wellness. While brainstorming ideas, my team realized that many of us had the same frustration with period tracking apps. Most apps help track where you are in your cycle, but that’s about it. We thought, what if it could go further?

What if it suggested the best exercises, foods, or wellness tips based on your current phase? That’s how we came up with REALM.

We trained a custom ML model to predict a user’s cycle phase and used that prediction to surface wellness advice on nutrition, mental health, sleep, and exercise. And we used a RAG API to provide personalized, cycle-aware advice using natural language.

How did you incorporate security into your project?

Security was at the heart of our app – not an afterthought. We knew that tracking menstrual health meant dealing with sensitive personal data. That’s why we integrated Passage by 1Password for passwordless login to handle authentication securely and seamlessly. This allowed us to focus on building user trust while maintaining a smooth UX.

That effort was recognized, and we were incredibly honored to win the 1Password-sponsored “Best Security Hack” award.

What advice would you give someone new to hackathons?

Go in with confidence and an open mind. Seriously, you don’t need to know everything. Build something you’re excited about, even if it’s imperfect. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn and accomplish in just 24 hours.

Most importantly: you belong in that room. Regardless of your experience level, you’re showing up to learn, and that alone speaks volumes.

From hackathon to internship

As part of your prize, you won a 1:1 coffee chat with one of our recruiters. How did you prepare, and how was your experience?

To prepare, I researched 1Password’s vision and mission. During the chat, I asked the recruiter what they look for in interns and how they ensure a valuable learning experience. I learned that 1Password places a strong emphasis on a growth mindset. They value students who are curious, open to trying new approaches, eager to improve things, and proactive in their learning.

I also got some insight into the tech stack used across the company. Interestingly, prior experience with that specific stack isn’t a requirement. The internship is designed to help you grow, learn, and challenge yourself.

How did you stay engaged with 1Password?

After my coffee chat, I became even more curious about the experiences of past interns at 1Password. I read several blog posts where former interns shared their journeys, and I also reached out to many of them to request quick chats. I wanted to learn more about their interview process and what their time at 1Password was like.

If I could give one piece of advice to anyone looking for internships, it would be: don’t be afraid to ask for help. I know it can feel intimidating. You might worry about taking up someone’s time, but you’d be surprised how many people are genuinely happy to share their experiences if you just ask.

What was the interview process like for you?

I applied online for the two roles I was most interested in and followed up by reaching out to the recruiter I had connected with during my coffee chat. When I heard back about scheduling a 45-minute interview, I prepared by refining my 1-minute introduction and elevator pitch. I wanted to make sure I clearly conveyed why I believe in 1Password’s mission of making security simple and accessible for everyone.

The interview itself felt more like a conversation than a formal assessment. We talked through the details of my resume, my interests in tech, why I wanted to work at 1Password, and my past experiences.

If it came down to one thing, why did you accept our offer to intern at 1Password?

After all my conversations with people at 1Password, one thing stood out consistently: a shared growth mindset. I was inspired by the fact that 1Password is tackling one of today’s most important challenges: helping people stay safe online in an age of increasing cyber threats. That combination of purpose and people made it an easy decision for me to accept the offer.

Life as a 1Password intern

Tell us about your team and the work you’re excited about doing.

I’m on the Developer Growth team (previously known as Developer Ecosystems). We build tools that simplify and secure developer workflows, such as the SSH Agent, the 1Password CLI, and the 1Password VS Code extension.

I was fortunate to join the team just as a new project, Developer Environments, was getting started. I started picking up starter issues within my first week. The onboarding process was very straightforward, and my onboarding buddy helped by answering all my questions, which made the process super smooth. I got my first MR (merge request) approved and merged into production on my third day.

After taking some time to familiarize myself with the codebase, I picked up tasks and contributed alongside full-time developers. One of the things I appreciated most was that I was never left without support. While the team encouraged independence, they also ensured I had the context and guidance I needed to approach problems effectively.

What’s life like as a 1Password intern?

I was initially worried that remote work might hinder interpersonal connections and a sense of belonging, but 1Password has done an incredible job cultivating a connected, collaborative culture. Public Slack channels and spontaneous huddles have recreated that in-person office feel. Anytime I saw teammates in a huddle, I felt welcome to join in, whether to observe or just have a casual conversation. There was always something happening, and if I had a quick question, I could jump into a huddle and get instant feedback.

In just a few weeks, the remote work culture really grew on me to the point where I can honestly say I wouldn’t have it any other way now.

What does 1Password’s mission, to build a safer, simpler digital future, mean to you?

For me, change started on a personal level. I’ve become much more mindful about the information I share online and with apps. Like many people, I used to store my passwords in a notepad on my phone or scribbled them in the back of a notebook. Convenient, but far from secure.

Now, I’ve realized that security doesn’t have to be complicated. I’ve also started encouraging my friends and family to think more critically about how they manage their sensitive information and to understand that protecting their digital lives can be easy and accessible.

Describe 1Password’s work culture in 3 words.

Growth-mindset, transparency, proactivity.

What has this full-circle experience meant to you?

This experience has made me believe that persistence pays off. Around this time last year, I was just another university student applying to dozens of jobs a day, battling imposter syndrome, and questioning whether I even belonged in the industry.

Looking back now, I’m proud of how far I’ve come. I discovered what I genuinely enjoy doing and have grown so much technically, professionally, and personally. This internship has been a full-circle moment and a reminder that progress doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen when you keep showing up.

What’s next for you after this internship?

I still have about a year and a half of school left, and I’m excited to head back to campus with everything I’ve learned. I’m taking with me not just technical skills, but also important lessons in teamwork, communication, leadership, and how to approach complex problems with confidence.

Kavya’s story serves as a reminder of how early experiences shape future leaders. We’re proud to help launch the next generation of talent, and we can’t wait to see where her journey goes next.

Ready to join us? Explore open roles on our careers page.

Liz Tam

Emerging Talent Specialist